A Syrian refugee cries as he takes part in a demonstration against Syria’s President Bashar Assad, outside the Syrian embassy in Amman on Friday (Reuters photo)

AMMAN — Dozens of injured Syrians crossed into Jordan late Saturday as fighting continued to intensify in what Syrian rebels are describing as “the decisive battle” for southern Syria.

According to a Jordanian security source, 35 injured Syrians crossed into Jordan between Saturday evening and Sunday morning as part of an influx of 976 refugees.

Authorities transported the injured Syrians, all military-aged males, to the Mafraq and Ramtha public hospitals, where they were treated for multiple bullet and shrapnel wounds, according to the source, who is stationed along the border.

“Border patrols received several waves of injured Syrians throughout the night, all of whom were transported to hospitals for emergency medical treatment,” said the source, who could not give his name as he is not authorised to speak to the press.

The Free Syrian Army confirmed that “at least 15” rebel fighters are among the injured, whose conditions range from serious to critical.

The influx of injured Syrians comes amid intensified fighting along the border as Damascus attempts to wrest control of large swathes of southern Syria from rebel forces.

Sounds of heavy shelling were reported north of the Jordanian border city of Ramtha early on Sunday as Syrian regime forces pounded southern rebel strongholds in Nasib, Taybeh and Sheikh Al Maskeen.

Clashes reportedly escalated as rebel forces attempted to storm the Yaduda and Nassib crossing points but were repelled by regime forces after drawn-out firefights.

READ MORE HERE ON JORDAN TIMES:

http://jordantimes.com/injured-syrians-pour-into-jordan-as-decisive-border-battle-rages